Was life in a town better than life on a manor? Answer the three questions at the top of your sheet using pages 360- 363 in the text

Wooden Vs Iron Plow

Three Field System

LEGUMES!

Growth of Trade and Towns Increased population, less warfare, and desire for new goods increased trade Goods from the East arrived in Northern Italian cities like Venice, and were then brought by land and sea to Northern Europe, where trade was growing. Small temporary trade fairs evolved into permanent towns and then cities See map on page 232

Starting a Town Most new towns were set up by merchants, who formed merchant organizations called guilds, which also ran the town Charter- document from Lord or King giving people permission to have a town on the Lord’s (or King’s) land

Commercial Revolution Increase in trade = increase in money use Europeans borrowed ideas from Muslim merchants such as Partnerships- groups of people pooling together capital (money for investment) to pay for large-scale projects Letters of Credit- Pieces of paper that could be exchanged for money at banks in many cities Banks form to lend money, but interest was seen as a sin by the church, so Jews became known (and hated) for being money lenders

The Middle Class New rank between nobles and peasants Included merchants, artisans, bankers Disliked by nobles and clergy Sign of a stronger economy

Guilds- Associations of merchants and artisans made to protect their economic interests. Merchant guilds ran towns Similar role to unions today

Guild Apprenticeship Apprentice trains with Guild Master After 7 years becomes Journeyman- someone whose training is complete and is qualified to work Only the best become Guild Masters